Yet another "Should I go to the doctor?" question

January 9, 2016 10:12 AM

Yesterday I burned my arm. Do I need to see a doctor?

While reaching into the lower rack of the oven, I burned my forearm on the edge of the top rack of the oven. Oven temp was 350F. The burn is about three inches long, about as skinny as a pencil. And...I sort of forgot about it within ten seconds because it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all.

It's now been almost 24 hours. It's a purplish gray color, topped with clear blisters. It's entirely dry. I haven't covered it or put any ointment on it. And it just doesn't hurt. I can push on it, stroke it -- nothing hurts. Looking at it on profile I can see that the entire area around it is swollen and raised, but that area doesn't hurt either.

All of my googling shows me ZOMG if it doesn't hurt it's a third degree burn ZOMG the worst, but my wound looks nothing like the (horrifying) accompanying photos. I do have insurance and access. So do I need treatment or can I just leave it alone to heal?

posted by BlahLaLa to Health & Fitness (15 answers total)

Best answer: I worked as a baker on and off through high school and college and got burns like this a bunch of times. Sometimes they hurt, sometimes they didn't. I did my best to keep them clean and dry (and covered, if they blistered and the blisters burst). The main danger with burns is infection, so keep and eye on it, clean and dry, etc. IANAD.
posted by rtha at 10:16 AM on January 9, 2016 [6 favorites]

Nthing no. If the red around it starts to spread (like an infection) Or there is pus, go to doctor! Otherwise carry on. Next time run cool water over the burn for a few minutes immediately to help reduce burning skin time. I've done this more times than I can count. Heals well each time.
posted by Kalmya at 10:31 AM on January 9, 2016

If the blisters burst, make sure to cover the wounds with a sterile dressing you change regularly. They are a bitch for getting infected & you may have to soak the dressing off do not rip it off if it gets stuck. If blisters are all in tact just keep the area clean & dry. Oh and you may want to elevate it if you start to get swelling but avoid ice. Try not to put any pressure on the area with tight sleeves etc.

Not a doctor but the daughter of a chef who has seen many burns in her time. Just don't ask about the time he tipped a tray of hot out the oven bacon grease all over himself.
posted by wwax at 10:39 AM on January 9, 2016 [2 favorites]

My husband burnt himself on his upper arm last week with the oven as well (except two strips - we aren't sure how he achieved that). Looked very similar to what you're describing, and also didn't hurt. It stayed clean and non-pus-y, went through various color changes, and today the scabs are starting to peel off to show a nice shiny burn scar. Nthing the others to just keep an eye on it for infection.
posted by Jaclyn at 10:44 AM on January 9, 2016

I do this a couple times a year since I bake a lot. I just clean it, apply some Aquaphor, put a bandage on it, and repeat that 2-3x a day. It always heals after about 3 days.
posted by gatorae at 10:54 AM on January 9, 2016

I called Telehealth once to ask if it was worthwhile going to the doc for a burn that was kind of bad but not skin-graft bad. They said that if it blisters immediately then that's a second degree burn and can be worth seeing a doctor about, but it if doesn't blister until later, then just keep it clean and put some polysporin on it from time to time.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 10:55 AM on January 9, 2016

I used to be a professional chef. Can't even remember how many of the scars on my hands and arms are from burns or knife cuts. You're fine. I would recommend using Aquaphor on your burn, though. It'll cut the healing time down like half and will probably inhibit infection setting in. Whenever I got burned, I'd dress the wound with Aquaphor and a bandage at night for bedtime and then leave it I bandaged for the daytime.
posted by cooker girl at 11:02 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]

You're fine. No doctor needed.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:14 AM on January 9, 2016

I have hurt myself in a similar fashion, though probably over slightly more square inches (top of foot, pan of roasting chicken tipped as I pulled it out of the oven) and also called the Teledoc. I was already using hydrogel burn pads on it and they said basically treat it like a cut: if it's extremely large, won't stop bleeding, or shows signs of infection go to urgent care, otherwise keep it clean and protected and don't pop the blisters, let them go on their own.

The hydrogel kept it padded and soft and protected from debris, all of which can be complicated on a foot. Since it's on your arm you can probably stick with Neosporin and Aquaphor for keeping it moist, and an old clean sock with the toe cut open as a stylish arm warmer/shield.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:17 AM on January 9, 2016

Response by poster: Aw, thanks. The advice seems pretty unanimous!
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:22 AM on January 9, 2016

But do go to the doc if it starts smelling or exudating pus!
posted by pintapicasso at 11:31 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]

Also applying Noxzema can help prevent scarring, if that's something you're concerned about.
posted by deathpanels at 11:34 AM on January 9, 2016

I did exactly the same thing wile cooking Christmas dinner a couple weeks ago. It was ugly, but didn't hurt at first. It did hurt some for the next week or so, but now it's almost completely gone.
posted by raisingsand at 3:10 PM on January 9, 2016

Done this a number of times. You'll probably be okay but I did get an infection once, so keep an eye out for expanding redness, heat (past the first few days), pus, or increased pain.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 12:13 AM on January 10, 2016

Response by poster: Updating 8 months later: it healed fine and left only a small mark on my arm. Not really a scar, but the sort of pigmented mark you get after a pimple heals. I imagine that'll eventually fade away completely.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:34 PM on August 6, 2016